AnyCollege Blog

Young Latinos Vital To US Education/Workforce

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 09:49:47 -0500

The Huffington Post released an article recently discussing the importance of the ever growing number of Latino students in America. In the article they touch on many things, including why it is important that more Latinos start earning their degree. I have included an excerpt of the article below and you can follow the provided link below to read the whole article.

Perez sees the dilemma his family faced as one confronting many Latino families. Especially during a rough economic times, the short-term gains of an immediate paycheck can often outweigh the longer-term benefits associated with a college degree. While unemployment rates for college graduates remain lower and starting salaries are higher than for those with only a high school diploma, rising amounts of student debt, combined with low graduation rates for many Hispanic students enrolled in college, are of concern to many weighing whether or not to make the investment.

The current statistics for young Latinos are particularly grim: Almost one in four school-aged American children is Latino, but a report released earlier this year by the White House showed those children achieve "the lowest education attainment levels" in the country. One out of every three will finish high school, and one out of every eight will graduate from college.

A recent Pew report found not only do Latinos have a significant high school dropout rate -- 18 percent -- they are also least likely to opt for the GED, which is a vital "second chance" credential when it comes to increasing college-going numbers. Only one in nine Latino dropouts will go on to earn a GED. Continue reading...

Source: Huffington Post

The History of College

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 09:45:00 -0500

[Via: American InterContinental University online education]

Though you’d never know it by watching Jersey Shore, higher educational institutions originated in Italy. I know, right? It’s true, though. The Salerno School of Medicine was established in the 8^th Century and the University of Bologna followed at the end of the 11^th Century. Fast forward approximately 600 years, and Harvard University was founded as the first college in America. And now, here we are in the 21^st Century with … well, a LOT more. And with the continued additions of colleges and universities and institutions of higher education comes the evolution of their focus, student populations, and more.

For instance, in the 13^th Century, students could study pretty much one of three areas: Rhetoric, Logitech and Latin. Now, the options are pretty much limitless. From puppetry to enigmatology (Yep, Indiana University offers a degree in the creation and solution of puzzles), if you want a degree in something, you can probably find it. There are, of course, the popular choices, too. Top 10 degrees include biology, business, communications, computer science, criminal justice, education, marketing, nursing, psychology and political science. To this day, no one’s sure what political scientists actually do. There’s a major dedicated to the study of it. Just kidding on that last part.

Another thing that’s changed drastically is the gender breakdown of each year’s crop of college enrollments. As you might imagine, for a long time women weren’t encouraged to get education. Since the fall of 1970, though, that trend has fallen by the wayside. From just over 3,500 enrollees then to a fall 2007 total of almost 10,500, female enrollment has increased at a much higher rate than male (5,044 to 7,816 in the same date range). Girl power! And 10,000 more people enrolled in college in 2007 than in 1970.

But what about degree types? In the 13^th Century, to go along with their Rhetoric, Logitech and Latin coursework, students were awarded one of three “grades” upon completion – Scholar, Bachelor or Master. A hundred years later, “Doctor” replaced “Master” even though those silly French were still using it in the 16^th Century. In the 1600s, the Bachelor of Science was just an introductory public test and the Mastership of Arts was a 2-year program. Then, in the late 19^th Century, Germany got all revolutionary and scrapped the Bachelor of Arts, instead using Mastership of Arts but calling it “Doctor of Philosophy.” Along that same time, America was devising their own system of degree levels, ending up with the still-intact Bachelor, Master, Doctorate hierarchy. Hey, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Long story short, education has changed a LOT over the past 1,300 years, but has remained something we all need to have fulfilling careers we can succeed in. And with so many options, why not check something out? Maybe you already have a bunch of degrees. What’s one more? As my friend’s grandma used to say, “Once you learn something new today, you can go back to sleep.” So, I’d say it’s naptime.

7 Apps to Get You Through the Week

Tue, 03 May 2011 10:25:00 -0500

A week in the life of a college student can feel like an eternity, and it can be complicated. Thankfully, there is a limitless supply of useful apps to help get you through week. Your lifestyle and personal preferences will dictate what you need to survive. But if you’re a little clueless, or just curious, here are some suggestions to get you through the week.

Monday – CNN mobile. Face it. You didn’t watch the news over the weekend. That’s why politicians always make apologies and give bad news on Fridays. They know you’re thinking about that hot date or that party you got invited to – as you should be. But come Monday, you might accidentally get cornered into a conversation about something newsworthy. Have this app ready, even if you just scan the headlines and improvise. Who knows, you might meet someone who’s attractive and smart, in which case this app might come in handy.

Tuesday – ScoreMobile. I know, it’s only Tuesday, but you’re already thinking about your fantasy team, or you’re following March madness and every other sport you can think of. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be glued to your TV or computer to know the latest scores, stats, or upcoming game times. With ScoreMobile, you can follow: NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, NCAAB, NCAAF, CFL, PGA, NASCAR, EPL, Champions League and MLS soccer.

Wednesday – Lose it! By mid-week you’re already looking forward to eating 50 wings while watching the big game. But that feeling of guilt creeps in that reminds you how long it’s been since you showed up at the gym or ate a salad. With this app you can track your nutrition and explore a database of recipes, exercises and activities in the palm of your hand. You can even share how motivated and disciplined you’ve been with your friends on Facebook and Twitter. There are so many features and benefits to this app – order a pizza and check it out!

Thursday – Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies. Okay, the weekend is getting really close. You can almost taste those hot wings, hear the laughter of your friends, and envision your team winning the big game. So what do you need to control the fire burning in your soul? A game that lets you kill Nazi zombies who have no souls. With this app you can meditate on shotgun blasts, splattering brains and the moans of the undead. Also, you can play with friends who are might be just as bored in class as you are.

Friday – Bartender’s Encyclopedia. (For 21+ College Students of course) You know what day it is. It’s time to relax and blow off some steam. Let’s say you’re trying to impress a date by making a martini (which you’ve never made before), or your at a bar and you want to order something different but you’re not sure what. This app boasts almost 25,000 different drink recipes. Drinks can be sorted by name, ingredient and in alphabetical order – depending on your need. This app even includes other information such as setting up a bar and techniques for quality assurance.

Saturday – Dinner Spinner Pro. So that girl you talked to last night? Um, yeah, you told her you could cook and that you’d make her dinner tonight. I know! How could you have done that? Thank goodness you have this app that lets you search by name, ingredient, cook time – you name it. You can even create a shopping list (because we both know you don’t have anything except beer and leftover pizza in your fridge). This app is handy for novice and experienced cooks. Why clutter your bookshelf with recipe books when you can have them all on your phone?

Sunday – HomeWork. Where did the week go? It’s Sunday and you can’t believe another week is about to begin. More than that, you can’t believe that you haven’t studied since last Sunday night. Some things never change. If this describes you, then download this app and start keeping track of your classes and homework. You won’t have to rummage through your notes (which are poorly taken) to figure out what your priorities should be.

Who knows what apps you’ll need next week? But rest assured there’s an app for everything (except time travel) and everyone.

No ACT or SAT Score? No Problem!

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:35:14 -0500

DePaul University becomes the largest private university to not require ACT or SAT scores. Starting for the freshman class of 2012, students will be able to answer essay questions instead of submitting test scores. The essay questions will be used to determine if the student has the "noncognitive" traits to make them successful in college. Those traits include leadership, commitment to service and the ability to meet long-term goals. University officials hope that this new initiative will help draw more diverse applicants and students who are more likely to graduate.

"Admissions officers have often said that you can't measure heart," said Jon Boeckenstedt, associate vice president for enrollment management. "This, in some sense, is an attempt to measure that heart."

It will be interesting to see how this new policy helps or hurts them. Either way, this is a bold approach that opens the doors to a lot of high school students who didn't do well on their admissions tests. We will continue to follow this story and report back with any updates that DePaul releases. In the mean time, feel free to learn about the ACT and SAT tests in our Resource Center, or apply for our Scholarship giveaway.

Top 10 College Basketball Rivalries

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 09:59:00 -0500

Top 10 College Basketball Rivalries

1. North Carolina vs. Duke - The Battle of Tobacco Road is always that, a battle. Each team has talented squads year in and year out and the fact that their campuses are separated by only 8 miles of highway makes this our #1 choice.

2. Kansas vs. Missouri - Dubbed the Border War, this rivalry dates back to the Civil War and the hatred between the two fan bases hasn't dwindle too much since then. Kansas usually has the more talented squad, but Missouri has been known to pull an upset on more than a few occasions.

3. Kentucky vs. Louisville - Kentucky is one the bluebloods, but always finds themselves trying to keep their instate rival at a distance.

4. Maryland vs. Duke - Maryland has done a great job closing the gap in terms of talent with Duke, but the Blue Devils still seem to hold the edge over the Terrapins. Maryland does pull its fair share of updates though.

5. Texas A&M vs. Texas- You may have immediately thought about football when you saw this matchup, but don't let these traditional football powerhouses fool you, as they have some of the best basketball games year in and year out.

6. Purdue vs. Indiana - The Battle of the Shot Clocks as I like to call it. There may not be a lot of scoring in these games as defense is the key. But these two teams know how to execute and play smart basketball. This instate rivalry always gets the Indiana natives riled up.

7. Cincinnati vs. Xavier - These schools are only 10 minutes apart, which means their fans bases know each other well. These teams may not always be in the Top 25 of the rankings when they meet every year, but the intensity that these games are played at cannot be overlooked.

8. Arizona vs. UCLA - Both of these programs have been down as of late, but their traditions keep them firmly in the Top 10. You will always see athletes galore when you watch this track meet play out.

9. Michigan vs. Michigan State - Michigan has also been down for the past few years, but they are improving. Tom Izzo keeps sending out talented squads which is one of the reasons Michigan State has one won 18 out of the last 21 games against Michigan. It also doesn't hurt when he has a recent Final Four under his belt.

10. Pittsburgh vs. West Virginia - The Backyard Brawl as this is aptly named, looks more like a wrestling match when they hit the hardwood. It came to a head over the last couple of years when West Virginia students started throwing pennies on to the court.

University of Texas Brokers New TV Deal

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 14:34:15 -0500

On Wednesday, the University of Texas officially announced a $300-million dollar deal with ESPN to start a TV network devoted solely to covering Longhorn sports. They also claim this will cover cultural and other non-athletic campus events, but that is yet to be seen and definitely is not the money maker in this deal. This is by far the biggest college TV deal in history and it is amazing that it could be done in a state that is trying to slash their budgets by $100+ million dollars.

The new network will spend the majority of its time showcasing its men's and women's "Olympic sports". Of the 200 athletic events that will air beginning in September, most of them will be in baseball, softball, golf, soccer, and other sports programs that don't see a lot of air time currently. Football and men's basketball games will not be shown very often because they are already locked into a deal with the Big 12 Conference. The new network will be allowed to show 1 Texas football game a year, and 8 men's basketball games.

You can read more about this in the Chronicle of Higher Education. Image courtesy of the Austin Business Journal.

Harvard Bringing Back ROTC After 40 Year Shut Out

Thu, 23 Dec 2010 11:04:00 -0500

Word came down this week that Harvard University will be inviting back ROTC to its campus for the first time in 40 years. What caused the sudden change? The armed forces can thank Congress for repealing its ban this week on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military.

This change will end a 40 year old stalemate between the military and one of the country’s best universities. Some quick history on this, the Vietnam War was the catalyst of the initial change and it continued over the last few decades due to student, faculty and Harvard administrators believing that it was unfair that the armed forces were discriminating against gays and lesbians. This has some profound implications on the military now that it will be able to recruit some of the brightest young minds in the country on campus.

University administrators will start up talks soon with high ranking military officials about the timetable for getting them back on campus. It seems as if the “don’t ask, don’t tell’’ policy was the last hurdle they needed to overcome to get Reserve Officers’ Training Corps started up at Harvard again.

Here is what Drew Faust, the president of Harvard had to say; "I look forward to pursuing discussions with military officials and others to achieve Harvard’s full and formal recognition of ROTC," and, "I am very pleased that more students will now have the opportunity to serve their country." So it looks like school officials are definitely on board with this. One thing is for sure, the brain trust in the military is about to get that much smarter over the next decade or so.

Read the Full Story at the Boston Globe. You can search for your own ROTC opportunities on AnyCollege.

The Best Christmas Toys Over the Years

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 13:51:00 -0500

Source: http://www.onlineuniversities.net/

Top 20 Unusual College Scholarships

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 09:36:00 -0500

Think you have researched all of the college scholarships that are out there? Think again, I bet you haven't seen some of these unusual, crazy and odd scholarships. Shout out to our friends at Dualmasters.org for compiling this list.

Frederick and Mary F. Beckley “Left-Handed” Scholarship: Are you left handed? Are you going to Juniata College? Are you at least a sophomore? Then you can qualify for this left-handed student’s only scholarship.
Michigan Llama Association Scholarship: If your folks are alumni of the Michigan Llama Association, you can send an application in this scholarship worth $500, the cool thing is that is it renewable up to 3 times. All you have to do is write an essay about your family’s involvement with llamas.
Zolp Scholarship: Here are the three criteria for this scholarship: Is your last name Zolp? Are you Roman Catholic? Do you attend Loyola? If you meet these three requisites then you can a full-tuition scholarship as Loyola.
Van Valckenburg Memorial Scholarship: If anyone can Van Valckenburg can. Win a scholarship that is if you have that last name. In fact it is good for up to $1,000 towards tuition at any college.
Tall Clubs International Scholarship: Are you really tall? If so, you can take advantage of this “higher ed” scholarship. As long as you are at least 6′2″ and male, or at least 5′10″ and you are a female, then you can enter in for a $1,000 college scholarship.
Little People of America Scholarships: If you are a little person, you can qualify for this scholarship. Preference given to those who have a medically diagnosed form of dwarfism.
Billy Barty Foundation Scholarship: You can also apply for the $1,000 if you are shorter than 4′10″ and diagnosed with dwarfism.
National Gay Pilots Association Scholarship: If you are gay, and planning to study aviation, this scholarship might be for you. You do have to be active in the LGBT community.
American Nudist Research Library Scholarship: If you are a young nudist, looking for a little financial aid help, you can apply for this scholarship.
Gertrude J. Deppen Scholarship: Those attending Bucknell University, and who have lived in Mount Carmel for 10 years and graduated from the public high school, can get this scholarship. Oh, and you can’t be using narcotics, tobacco or intoxicating liquor.
NCTA Help Santa Find the Perfect Real Christmas Tree: If you are between the ages of six and 16, you can write an essay about finding a perfect Christmas tree, and get up to $10,000.
FBI Common Knowledge Scholarship: Do you happen to know a lot about the FBI? If so, you can enter this quiz contest and possibly win up to $250.
National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance Scholarship: The New England chapter of this organization offers a scholarship to students who are overweight.
Carnegie Mellon Bagpipe Scholarship: If you are willing to study bagpipes from a world-famous instructor, majoring in the pipes, you can get $7,000 a year — and a discount on your kilts.
Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest: High school seniors can compete for scholarships of $1,500, $500, $300 and $200 for best ability to call ducks.
Coven of the Sacred Waters Scholarships: Do you have a talent for witchcraft? If so, you can apply for a $500 scholarship from the Coven of the Sacred Waters. You can also apply for a community service award — even if you aren’t a witch.
National Make It Yourself with Wool Scholarship: The American Sheep Industry Association offers a scholarship for those who make garments out of at least 60% wool.
The Kor Memorial Scholarship: This is a scholarship offered by the Klingon Language Institute for those who have the talent of tongue. No, you don’t have to speak Klingon; but you do have to be studying language.
Starfleet Academy Scholarships: The International Star Trek Fan Association’s Starfleet offers a number of scholarships, based on different talents, including engineering, medical, performing arts, writing and business.
Excellence in Predicting the Future Award: If you are good at figuring out what the market will do, you can join in this contest to see whether you can win $400 by accurately predicting the market and increasing your account.

To see the even more crazy, weird and odd scholarships, see the full list at http://www.dualmasters.org/. To apply for our free college scholarship please follow this link: http://www.anycollege.com/scholarship.cfm

College in America

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 10:52:00 -0500

With a record number of students heading to college in America, we thought it would be cool to take a look at what the average college student could expect. This is a great breakdown of information ranging from tuition prices, drinking and the importance of social networking. It's crazy that 85% of college students are on facebook, but I guess that's not surprising. Also pretty interesting was that 1 and 10 admissions counselors look at a perspective students facebook page before deciding their fate. So make sure your social profiles aren't too crazy while you are going through the admissions process. What are your thoughts on this? Do you think it is accurate?

Top 75 Cities for College Students

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 09:49:00 -0500

There is always a debate on what the best cities are for college students. Well the fine people at AIER came up with a pretty good map of where the best towns are. If you are a high school student and are still undecided on where you want to go to school, then this map should help you out. If you are a current college student, let us know what you think about these ranking by leaving a comment below.

Home Prices for College Towns in the U.S.A.

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 09:25:00 -0500

Where is College the Cheapest?

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 13:02:00 -0500

Please click to enlarge

Student Debt vs. Average Income

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 09:40:00 -0500